When it comes to learning Japanese, you’ll need a good mix of online and offline tools to take you to fluency. Everyone will have their own preferences for apps, books, browser plugins and online learning platforms, but the list below was what worked for me (and perhaps it will work for you as well).
Let’s go over what I included in my Japanese language learning tool box.
One of the best ways to practice Japanese is by, well, actually using it. You can find a language exchange partner on italki,which is an online community of language learners.
It’s got a really nice interface and offers social networking features. You’ll also find teachers on the site who offer private teaching services.
Read this italki review to find out if this language tutoring platform will serve you well on your language learning journey! I’ll explain how it works, the pros and cons,…
I get it–learning Japanese isn’t always a walk in the park. But it doesn’t have to be a boring, tedious, or hair-pulling experience either. In fact, making it fun is key to your success!
With FluentU, you can learn Japanese naturally by turning any YouTube or Netflix video with subtitles into an interactive language lesson. I’m talking about language immersion from the convenience of your device.
You can even import your favorite YouTube videos into your FluentU account to learn from them using the app or website. Or browse our curated library of videos handpicked for beginners and intermediate learners.
While you watch a video, FluentU’s interactive subtitles let you tap on any word for an instant definition, example sentences, images, and audio. No more pausing and searching for translations—everything you need is right there!
It's all built to help you learn how to use words in real contexts. And as you learn, you can add new words to your flaschards with just a click! For example, if I tap on the word 予約, this is what pops up:
Learn even faster with built-in quizzes that reinforce vocab from every video. FluentU tracks your progress, gives you extra practice with tricky words, and reminds you when it’s time to review—so your learning is always personalized and effective.
Another language exchange website you can try is MyLanguageExchange.com.
Yes, it has an interface that looks like it’s from the 90s… but it also has a very active and engaged community. It’ll be easy to find someone here who wants to email back and forth, exchange Line messages or even chat face-to-face on Skype.
MyLanguageExchange is a huge community of language learners who are looking to exchange knowledge of their native language with you. Read this review of MyLanguageExchange…
Though the app doesn’t really have a quiz interface like most of the other study apps out there, it’s really comprehensive. It has lots of kanji, lots of vocab and even grammar.
It’s especially useful if you’re an independent learner, want to create your own study materials, or want to supplement other programs of study.
Here’s another great app that is also very comprehensive.
It’s a great way to learn everything from kana and kanji to vocabulary. It includes quizzes to help you track your progress, conjugation charts for verbs, detailed grammar info and audio clips.
The paid version of the program includes plenty more features and the app is constantly getting updated with new functionality.
Anki is an extremely popular flashcard tool for kanji practice. Though I’ve run into the occasional bug trying to get it to work on my smartphone, it’s a fantastic app when you do get it up and running.
This open-source program has a ton of flashcard sets created by Japanese aficionados from around the world. So you can experiment to find the ones that fit your tastes and your language-learning needs.
There are hundreds of Anki Japanese decks you can instantly download for free to improve your vocabulary and grammar. Click here to find the top three Japanese Anki decks,…
WWWJDIC (don’t you love the name?) is a front-end app for the well-known website. The app is much prettier than the website, but both provide lots of information.
Most of the apps on our list are available for Android, but there are plenty of options for iPhone users, as well.
This is an invaluable Chrome plugin that looks up Japanese kanji and vocabulary when you hover over them with the mouse. It’s a simple dictionary, but boy is it useful!
It not only defines kanji, it also has a huge bank of Japanese vocabulary.
Every Japanese student will need to type in Japanese at some point or other. Luckily, typing in Japanese is free and easy to set up.
There are instructions online for setting up your keyboard to type in Japanese. All you need to do is open up your control panel, make a couple tweaks and you’re all set. In no time at all, you’ll be able to type in Japanese with your English keyboard.
Hiragana comes out first, and then you turn the hiragana into kanji as needed.
For those Mac users out there, Red Cocoon has instructions on how to set up Japanese input on your Mac OS.
Offline Tools
Textbooks
You won’t get far with your Japanese learning without a good textbook!
For textbooks, grammar books and reference books, check out the post below.
Let these 33 best Japanese learning books guide your studying and you won’t be led astray. This comprehensive list has textbooks for all aspects of learning Japanese, from…
Physical Flashcards
If you want to buy some professionally designed Japanese flashcards,White Rabbit Press gets my recommendation. They include vocabulary, sounds, meanings and much more.
Due to online competition, their price has been reduced and is much more reasonable now…when I bought all three sets they cost me around $200.
If you have the time, you can also make your own flashcards by hand! All you need is some index cards and a pen or marker.
Electronic Dictionary
How hardcore are you?
If you’ve got the money to spare, grab an electronic dictionary.
Mine’s a Seiko brand, but it’s still the best offline dictionary I’ve ever found. Here’s what to look for in a hand-held electronic dictionary: a Japanese-English dictionary, an English-Japanese dictionary, a Japanese-Japanese dictionary and a kanji dictionary.
Mine also includes an English-English dictionary, idioms, a calculator and a few other functions.
Two other popular brands are Casio and Sharp.
Notebooks, Japanese Pens and Pencils
A notebook’s a notebook, right?
Well, yes and no.
The right notebook can make your practice even more enjoyable. I personally recommend the gridded moleskines if you’re just starting out with kanji practice. You can use the vertical lines to help you keep all your kanji organized and properly sized.
Of course you can choose any notebook that you like using.
As for Japanese writing instruments, they can be a great way to motivate yourself to study and will help make studying with pen and paper more engaging.
Hopefully, you’ve found this list helpful. Most of these Japanese learning tools are free, free to try or cheap.
So head out and start filling up your toolbox right now.
